Gout can cause an attack of sudden burning pain, stiffness, and swelling
in a joint, usually a big toe. These attacks can happen over and over
unless the cause is corrected. Over time, they can harm your joints,
tendons, and other tissues. Gout is most common in men.What causes gout?
Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the blood. Most of the time,
having too much uric acid is not harmful. And many people with high
levels in their blood never get gout. The kidneys can filter out this
substance in the form of urea in the urine. But when uric acid levels
in the blood are too high, it can result in the formation of hard
crystals in your joints thereby causing an arthritic condition.**

Your chances of getting gout are higher if you are overweight, drink
too much alcohol, or eat too much meat and fish that are high in chemicals
called purines. Some medicines, such as
water pills (diuretics), can also bring on gout.

What are the symptoms?
The most common sign of gout is a nighttime attack of swelling, tenderness,
redness, and sharp pain in your big toe . You can also get gout attacks
in your foot, ankle, or knees. The attacks can last a few days or
many weeks before the pain goes away. Another attack may not happen
for months or years.

The buildup of uric acid that led to your gout attack can still harm
your joints.

How is gout treated?
To ease the pain during a gout attack, rest the joint that hurts.
Taking ibuprofen or another anti-inflammatory medicine can also help
you feel better. But don't take aspirin. It can make gout worse by
raising the uric acid level in the blood.

To prevent future attacks, pay attention to what you eat. See Food
Chart. Eat moderate amounts of a healthy mix of foods to control
your weight and get the nutrients you need. Avoid regular daily intake
of meat, seafood, and alcohol (especially beer). Drink plenty of water
and other fluids. See
Why meatless is better. See the Inner
Clean Diet.

Factoids

In
each and every environment, good
health and sustained wellness is dependant
on the rapid removal of waste. In
terms of your
personal health, you need to void solid waste two
to three times a day or once between each meal,
without straining, to maintain basic health and wellness.
Toxins can be harmless if removed quickly from the body.

**One
answer to excessive levels of uric acid in the blood,
the condition known as gout, and similar arthritic-
like diseases, is to stop eating dead
animals.

*Consultation
with a health care professional should occur before applying
adjustments or treatments to the body, consuming medications
or nutritional supplements and before dieting, fasting or exercising.
None of these activities are herein presented as substitutes
for competent medical treatment. See
Disclaimer.